CTAngiography

CT angiography, often written as CT angiography or CTangiography, is a medical imaging modality that combines computed tomography with intravenous iodinated contrast to visualize blood vessels throughout the body. It provides high-resolution, three-dimensional images of arteries and veins, enabling assessment of vessel patency, caliber, and surrounding structures.

The technique involves injecting a contrast agent through a peripheral vein and acquiring CT images at specific times to optimize intravascular enhancement. Timing can be controlled by bolus tracking, test bolus, or predefined delays, with imaging sometimes synchronized to the cardiac cycle for coronary assessments. Post-processing commonly includes multiplanar reconstructions, maximum intensity projections, and volume rendering to facilitate interpretation.

Common indications include evaluation of suspected vascular disease such as aortic aneurysm or dissection, pulmonary embolism, cerebral or carotid artery pathology, peripheral arterial disease, and planning of surgical or endovascular interventions. Coronary CT angiography is a specialized form used to visualize coronary arteries for suspected coronary artery disease.

Advantages of CT angiography include rapid acquisition, wide availability, noninvasiveness relative to conventional catheter-based angiography, and excellent spatial resolution. Limitations involve exposure to ionizing radiation and the use of iodinated contrast, which can pose risks for nephrotoxicity or allergic reactions. Motion artifacts and calcifications can hinder image quality.

Alternatives include magnetic resonance angiography and invasive catheter angiography. CT angiography remains a central tool in diagnosing vascular conditions and guiding treatment decisions, with ongoing advancements in dose reduction and image reconstruction.